Australian Camera — May-June 2017

REPORT BY PAUL BURROWS

54

ON TRIAL

TAMRON

SP 70-200mm f2.8 DI VC

USD G2 ZOOM

54

Nikon has raised the bar with its latest f2.8

speed 70-200mm high performance zoom,

but Tamron’s new G2 model reveals it clearly

relishes a challenge.

SUPER MODEL

200mm f2.8 in the range – often

with a price advantage over the

camera brands – and Tamron has

just upped the ante with its all-new

‘Generation 2’ – G2, for short –

model. The previous version, by the

way, has been around since 2012

and a bit has happened in lens

design and technology since then.

The ‘offi cial’ model name is

the Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 Di

VC USD G2 – so it’s perhaps not

surprising there’s a far simpler

Model A025 designation for those

that need it.

TO THE LETTER

As with most accessory lenses, it’s

all those initials in the model name

which tell the story. Of course,

Tamron has been using the ‘SP’

prefi x on its higher-end lenses

for decades (it stands for ‘Super

Performance’, by the way) and the

G2 model has an all-new optical

design, incorporating a range of

long with the

24-70mm f2.8, the

70-200mm f2.8 is a

staple of any serious

photographer’s kit.

Together they span a focal range

that takes in a wide variety of

subjects and the constant aperture

of f2.8 actually provides plenty

of fl exibility when it comes to

low light situations or reducing

depth-of-fi eld.

Not surprisingly then, the

D-SLR makers pride themselves

on their 70-200mm f2.8 zooms

and there have been regular

upgrades to incorporate new

features – such as optical image

stabilisation and weather-proofi ng

• and improved optical designs

utilising the latest materials and

manufacturing techniques. Nikon,

for example, has only just recently

introduced its third-generation

model boasting numerous

performance enhancements and

a more compact, lighter weight

design. The ‘independents’ too

have recognised the importance

of having a high-performance 70-

A

The new G2 version of Tamron’s

SP 70-200mm f2.8 zoom has been

thoroughly updated and upgraded,

both inside and out.

CamMayJune17_054-056 Tamron.indd 54 13/04/2017 8:35 AM